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Pigpen: Pre-Dead groups

Pigpen was a member of Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions and the Warlocks prior to the formation of the Grateful Dead. A few short tape excerpts and the memories of other performers from the period document Pigpen's other musical activities during the first half of the 1960's.

Additions, corrections and comments are welcome



Unknown date   Unknown group   A tape, known as "the Unident thing" exists of songs performed by a group that includes Jerry Garcia and Pigpen. It is possibly from 1962 or 1963. The songs on the tape are: Blues Jam; Careless Love; In The Pines; Goin' To Chicago; 99 Years and Blue Goose. Though Blue Goose may well be from a different source

1963   Liberty Hill Aristocrats   Peter Albin has said that Pigpen used to sit in on harmonica with this group in 1963, The group included Rodney Albin, Peter Albin and David Nelson.

1963   Second Story Men   The Second Story Men was a short lived group that performed in 1963. The group line-up was Ron 'Pigpen' McKernan, Rodney Albin, Peter Albin and Ellen Kavanaugh. The group possibly played at the Boar's Head in San Carlos and at the Tangent in Palo Alto. A tape of the group exists but the date and location of the recorded performance are uncertain. The tape comprises two songs, McKernan's Blues and Rocky Mountain Blues.

1963/64?   The Zodiacs   It's possible that Pigpen played some shows with an electric blues band called the Zodiacs. Bill Kreutzmann also played with this group. Jerry Garcia may have sat in on bass with the group as well

1964   Pigpen & Peter Albin   A tape exists of Pigpen and Peter Albin playing, possibly at the Top Of The Tangent, in 1964. The tape comprises two songs, John Henry and Hoochie Coochie Man.

1964   Pigpen & Jorma Kaukonen   A tape exists of Pigpen and Jorma Kaukonen playing in 1964. The tape comprises two songs, a solo instrumental version of Sweet Georgia Brown by Jorma and and Betty and Dupree with Jorma on guitar and vocals and Pigpen on harmonica.

1964   Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions

  For more information see the Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions page

1965   The Warlocks

  For more information see the Warlocks page


Last updated March 2012